CROATIA CONSIDERS YUGOSLAV PROPOSAL FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP TREATY

ZAGREB, March 24 (Hina) - Croatia had received a draft treaty on dual citizenship from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), and currently considered its positive and negative consequences, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said in Zagreb on Monday. Speaking at a news conference Granic said many agreements between Croatia and the FRY were being considered or settled as part of the process of normalising relations. "One of the agreements is a draft treaty on dual citizenship proposed by Belgrade," Granic told the conference. "Different Croatian ministries' experts are studying positive and negative consequences of such a treaty. We shall consider it thoroughly from the stand of our state interests," Granic said. Asked when Croatia would express its view on the draft treaty, he replied that the speed of resolution of the issue would be determined by Croatian state interests. The process of normalisation of relations between Croatia and the FRY was on the firm base of interest and took into consideration a public opinion and strategic state interests, he added. Granic said Croatia was taking account of interests of "the entire peace process" and of the process of "peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area", while considering the draft treaty. Croatia has regulated dual citizenship by law so that it enables all Croats to receive Croatian citizenship. Granic said problems might crop up as regards Yugoslavia because the issue had not been regulated yet with that country, and added that it was in the interest of Croatia that Croats in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia could have the right to dual citizenship. (hina) jn mš 241645 MET mar 97